Combine my raw interview notes, on-site photos, and recorder transcripts into a single ordered dossier PDF, export it …
Open Adobe Acrobat.
Go to File > Combine Files.
Click Add Files and select the PDF files you want to merge.
Arrange the files in your desired order by dragging and dropping them within the list.
Click Combine to merge the selected files into a single PDF document.
Save the new combined PDF to your preferred location.
You can preview and reorder files before combining to ensure the final PDF is in the correct sequence.
This runs in the Acrobat app - there is no separate API for this task.
The 'Combine PDF' operation is a way to automatically merge multiple PDF files into one using programming. You would use it to save time if you have many files to combine regularly or if you want to integrate this function into another software application. It helps automate repetitive tasks.
No, if your original files already had page numbers, combining them will likely result in the page numbers restarting for each new file. For example, if you combine two files that both start at page 1, your new PDF will have two sets of 'page 1'. To fix this, you will need to add continuous page numbers to the combined PDF after it is created. This ensures all pages have unique, sequential numbers.
The order of files matters because the 'Combine Files' feature merges documents from top to bottom. The first file you place at the top will become the first part of your new PDF, and so on. This means the final document will follow the exact sequence you set.
Combining files rarely makes the PDF smaller; it often makes it larger. After you combine your documents, you should use a 'Compress PDF' feature in Adobe Acrobat. This tool helps to reduce the overall file size without losing too much quality. Compress the file only after you have finished combining and organizing all your documents.